The Arc Central Chesapeake Region, a nonprofit committed to transforming lives for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), announced today over $42,000 available for Maryland youth through their Family Fund grant. The Arc is seeking applicants that have a child with I/DD under the age of 21 who reside in Maryland. Applications for the Family Fund open March 1, 2021, with awards issued in May of this year.

“We are very grateful for the continued generosity of our community, which makes this fund possible,” said Jonathon Rondeau, CEO, The Arc. “There are effective therapies, services, and adaptive equipment available to support children with disabilities, but these resources are expensive and are often not covered by insurance. With our Family Fund, we work to fill the gaps in access to the supports we know make a significant difference in the lives of youth with a disability.”

The complete application is available on The Arc’s website, www.thearcccr.org/familyfund.

The Family Fund does not cover emergency or crisis requests. If you require emergency funding, please contact resources@thearcccr.org, and The Arc will assist you with appropriate resources.

Created in 2017, the Family Fund provides grants for services and supports not covered by insurance. This grant cycle includes $19,000 of Autism-specific funding, contributed by The Bowen Foundation for Autism in memory of what would have been Bowen Levy’s 19th birthday in November.

“We are excited to widen the reach of the Family Fund, with the support of our affiliate, The Bowen Foundation for Autism,” said Rondeau. “Despite the ongoing pandemic, the amount we have to grant this year to families has increased by $10,000. We are grateful for the opportunity to provide even more support to the community at a time when it is desperately needed.”

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc), a nonprofit committed to transforming lives for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), and Laura Austin, Board Chair, are pleased to announce the addition of Jonathan Barnes and Traci Kodeck to the Board of Directors, effective February 1, 2021. The addition of Jonathan and Traci strengthens organizational governance and sustainability as The Arc works toward equity and access for people with I/DD.

“We are excited to have both Jonathan and Traci join The Arc’s board,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO, The Arc. “Jonathan is a staunch advocate for people with disabilities in the workforce, and Traci has dedicated her career to improving the equity of services and access to healthcare for the community. We welcome both of their passion and leadership.”

Jonathan Barnes is a part-time Security Guard for Defensor Security. Jonathan has a strong belief in helping people with disabilities find gainful employment. He is a self-advocate and plays a large role in advocating for the services he and his brothers receive from The Arc.

“I’m excited to join the board because my experience and passion for finding people with disabilities jobs is unique,” said Jonathan.

Jonathan’s leadership experience includes leading several of The Arc’s virtual Day Services, classes designed to encourage people with disabilities to find employment, and volunteer work at his firehouse.

Traci Kodeck is the CEO of HealthCare Access Maryland, a nonprofit that connects residents to public health care coverage. Over the past 20 years, she served a number of roles including the Director of Maternal and Child Health Programs, Chief of Program Operations, Vice President of Programs, and has volunteered extensively in the community.

“As a mother and a long term public health advocate for women and children, I am honored to join the board of The Arc,” said Traci. “As a nonprofit leader, I look forward to providing a unique perspective to the collective board while helping move the mission forward during this challenging time.”

In 2018, Traci received the University of Arizona Alumna of the Year award from the School of Public Health, and in 2019 was named one of The Daily Records Top 100 Women. She is also a graduate of Leadership Maryland.

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc), a nonprofit committed to transforming lives for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), is proud to announce an $18,250 grant from the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County to continue and expand the critical healing and crisis prevention work through Coping with COVID.

Created in Summer 2020, Coping with COVID helps people with I/DD process their emotional response to the pandemic and identify ways to adapt to the many changes and disruptions in their lives.

“Our role as a provider is to proactively acknowledge the challenges and changes people are experiencing, and to help people grieve healthily so they are able to move forward without fear,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO, The Arc. “People with I/DD are already at an increased risk for isolation. Ongoing social distancing could lead to people feeling disconnected from their community, resulting in challenging behaviors and even trauma.”

Coping with COVID consists of small group sessions, led by clinical psychology expert Dr. Karyn Harvey. Each session helps people process their emotional response to the pandemic and identify ways to adapt to their new reality.

“As we are now almost a full year into the pandemic, there is a need to support people to work through the long-term effects this crisis will have. With support from the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County we will be able to continue this vital work,” said Rondeau. “People with I/DD are our friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. They are a part of the fabric of our community, and the mental health and well-being of our broader community start with the mental health and well-being of each community member.”

About the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County

The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC) is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3), publicly supported philanthropic organization with the long-term goal of building permanent funds that provide support to local nonprofit organizations through grants and special projects. Its mission is to inspire and promote giving in Anne Arundel County by connecting people who care with causes that matter. Established in 1998, CFAAC is one of the largest funders of nonprofit organizations in Anne Arundel County. CFAAC distributed nearly $3 million in 2019 to a variety of nonprofit organizations. Learn more at www.cfaac.org.

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc), a nonprofit committed to transforming lives for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) is excited to announce a $19,000 donation from The Bowen Foundation for Autism to support The Arc’s Family Fund. The donation is in honor of Bowen Levy’s 19^th birthday on November 18, 2020.

“Thanks to our supporters, we are proud to contribute $19,000 to the Family Fund in honor of what would have been Bowen’s 19^th birthday,” said Bryan Levy, Founder of The Bowen Foundation for Autism, and Bowen Levy’s father. “It’s so important for The Bowen Foundation to be able to continue to support local families in the area. Our commitment to Anne Arundel County’s children with Autism has never been more resolute and we are honored to work with the Family Fund. We remain so thankful for the contribution and support of so many amazing people who help us to carry on our mission in memory of Bowen.”

“We are so grateful for the continued support and partnership of The Bowen Foundation for Autism,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO, The Arc Central Chesapeake Region. “This is an incredible investment in the Family Fund at a time when so many families are in desperate need of resources. We are proud to accept this gift in Bowen’s honor.”

The Arc partnered with The Bowen Foundation for the 2020 grant cycle to reach more families throughout the region. The last grant cycle saw over 100 applications and more than $200,000 in requests.

“This generous gift from The Bowen Foundation means that we are able to help even more families in our community this year,” said Rondeau.

Applications for the Family Fund will open on March 1, 2021. More information is available at www.thearcccr.org/familyfund

About The Bowen Foundation for Autism

The Bowen Foundation for Autism is a local organization that seeks to improve the lives of children with Autism in Maryland. As an affiliate of The Arc Central Chesapeake Region, The Bowen Foundation supports grants to local families who struggle to pay for necessary services for children with Autism. Since 2007, the Bowen Foundation has raised more than $300,000 to help families pay for doctor’s appointments, behavioral therapies, safety equipment, learning devices, and other services. www.bowenfoundation.org

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc), a nonprofit committed to transforming lives for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), is pleased to announce the election of Deena Kilmon, Director of Engagement, to the Board of Directors of the Central Maryland Chamber of Commerce (CMC).

“I am proud to serve my local community through my new role on the board,” Kilmon said. “The chamber is about creating stronger communities by advocating for local businesses, and I am excited to be a part of this important work. I look forward to promoting inclusion and opportunity for everyone in our community.” Deena will begin her term on January 1, 2021.

“We are fortunate to have Deena Kilmon joining the Central Maryland Chamber Board of Directors,” said Kristi Simon, President & CEO, CMC. “Deena’s experience in non-profit management, community engagement, and leadership makes her a perfect fit for the board. We look forward to working with her to strengthen both of our organizations and our partnership in 2021.”

Deena Kilmon is the Director of Engagement for The Arc, where she creates opportunities for children and adults with disabilities, and their families, to connect to resources and engage with the community. Prior to joining The Arc in 2018, Deena served as the Sales & Marketing Director for Chesapeake Harvest. She brings robust experience in marketing having spent four years as an Account Executive at Effectv (formerly Comcast Spotlight), helping local businesses affordably and effectively market themselves. Deena formerly served on the board of directors for the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce.

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc), a nonprofit committed to transforming lives for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), is proud to announce a $10,000 grant awarded from the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation to build two digital learning mini labs in their Severn, MD, headquarters.

“When you think about the world today, a lack of digital literacy can be marginalizing,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO, The Arc. “Without access to develop digital literacy skills, people with disabilities are at risk of exclusion. These labs provide access to technology, allowing people to learn digital skills and give them an opportunity to explore their interests.”

The labs are a tool for people in The Arc’s Workforce Development and Day Services programs to develop the digital skills needed to explore interests, possible career paths, and connect with the community.

“At Comcast, we understand the importance of providing people of all abilities with the digital tools and resources that will help them stay connected and be successful,” said Misty Allen, Vice President of Government & Regulatory Affairs for Comcast’s Beltway Region. “We are proud to support The Arc Central Chesapeake Region’s labs and help these individuals find greater independence in their daily lives.”

This grant from the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation is in recognition of Comcast’s commitment to the communities where its customers and employees live and work.

About the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation

The Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation continues the work of the foundations founded by Comcast Corporation and NBCUniversal to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on the communities we serve. Its mission is to empower communities to thrive by helping to provide access to technology, relevant digital skills and training, and inspiring volunteerism and service. More information about how Comcast NBCUniversal supports the communities it serves is available at comcast.com/community.​

 The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc), a nonprofit committed to transforming lives for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) is partnering with Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman to offer grants to families with children with disabilities or special medical needs who are adversely affected by COVID-19.

The program will provide short-term, in-home supports to children (ages 0-21) with disabilities living in Anne Arundel County. Families are eligible to receive up to $500. The Arc will begin accepting applications for the program on Friday, November 13, 2020. Families may apply for the funding through December 31, 2020.

“We are thrilled to partner with Anne Arundel County to provide this incredible funding for our community,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO, The Arc. “This program will help parents who need additional support for their child due to the pandemic, and is a much-needed resource for so many families in our community at this time.”

Parents can apply for funding to provide childcare to complete necessary personal tasks such as medical or other critical appointments, childcare to help as they recover from COVID-19, support to provide supervision during virtual learning so parent(s) can work, childcare to complete basic tasks that cannot be completed with their child, or childcare to allow for a mental break.

The funding will support at least 90 families in Anne Arundel County. The Arc will facilitate the program and administer all funding.

Families can apply at www.thearcccr.org/familysupportsgrant through December 20, 2020.

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc), a nonprofit committed to transforming lives for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), announced today that the 22^nd annual Tee It Up for The Arc golf tournament raised over $110,000 – a new high for the event.

The tournament, postponed from May 2020 due to the pandemic, took place on Monday at The Golf Club at South River. Ben Harries of BGC/Gardiner & Gardiner chaired the event for the second year in a row.

“We are very grateful for the support of the community, which was a critical part of the success of Tee It Up for The Arc,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO, The Arc. “Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the community really embraced us, and embraced this event, allowing us to raise much needed revenue for our programs and services.”

The tournament raised over $30,000 more than in 2019, and sold out in just under 48-hours. The Arc’s staff and The Golf Club at South River made significant changes to the tournament to ensure social distancing measures and to keep all golfers and staff as safe as possible.

“I am very grateful to the community for stepping up to help a great organization, like The Arc,” said Ben Harries, Owner of BGC/Gardiner & Gardiner and Chair of Tee It Up for The Arc. “I am incredibly proud of this year’s tournament – both the golfers and the staff of The Arc made the best of a challenging situation – and I’m excited that we raised a lot of money for people with I/DD,” Harries said.

The tournament’s winning team was the D’Camera group, with a score of 58. You can view photos from the tournament, here.

As a part of DSP Recognition Week this year, the Maryland Department of Disabilities and DDA requested nominations for DSPs who go above and beyond to support integrated community employment and/or full community participation and membership for people with disabilities.

The Arc is proud to announce that Earlene Moberly is one of 30 DSPs from across the state who will receive a citation from Governor Larry Hogan. Her dedication to advancing The Arc’s mission, as well as her professionalism, positivity, kindness, and generosity makes a difference in the lives of the people we support.

Earlene has been an Employment Advisor with The Arc for over 7 years. In her role, Earlene supports Greg who owns his own vending machine business, Greg’s Rainbow Services.

Earlene empowers Greg to operate his business successfully in the community. Together they stock the machines and keep track of inventory. Earlene takes Greg shopping to replenish his supplies – all the while reminding him that this is his business and that she is there to support him.

Said Debbie, Greg’s mom, “Earlene is professional in every way. She interacts successfully with Greg’s clients and is very conscientious about promoting his business. She excels at allowing Greg to be independent in performing the work, reminding him of the next task only when necessary. We have noticed a marked improvement in Greg’s job performance.” 

Earlene has also been a great mentor to Greg outside of his business by supporting him during lunchtime. Not only does she help him make healthy choices, she ensures that his food is prepared in a manner he can eat. Since they have begun working together, she has helped Greg lose weight, and maintain his weight loss.

“Earlene optimistically promotes Greg in a positive light to everyone around him,” said Debbie.

While the pandemic has placed Greg’s business on old, Earlene has continued to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by lending support in The Arc’s Community Living program. Throughout the pandemic, she has stayed in contact with Greg and is looking forward to returning to business.

*This photo of Earlene and Greg was taken prior to The Arc’s mask mandate.

Don’t miss your chance to get your 50-50 Raffle Tickets. Last year the winner took home over $1,000! Tickets are $20 for 5, or $5 for 1 – the winner’s name will be drawn on September 28th at Tee It Up for The Arc. You do not need to be present to win. To reserve tickets, fill out the form below. All proceeds benefit The Arc’s program and services.